Film galaxy praises Goa

28 November 2004 23:16 IST

The official announcement at the 35th International Film Festival was to bring a strong legislation to control film piracy. But what attracted more the galaxy of film industry gathered here is the enchanting ambience of Goa.

From Dilip Kumar to central information and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy and even Nagaland-based Goa governor S C Jamir, all had praises for choosing the tiny coastal state as the permanent venue for the film festivals.

“We were cheering up for this beautiful land from the plane itself”, said Dilip Kumar, expressing feelings of his wife Sairo Bano, A R Rehman and other fellow travellers who landed here yesterday, to attend the first filmi event held in Goa.

Followed by the formal opening at the Kala Academy complex in Panaji, the first day enthralled the audience with two songs of Subhash Ghai’s forthcoming sensation Kisna, composed by A R Rehman.

The festival however was actually kicked off by screening Mira Nair’s Vanity Fair, premiered at the Goa Festival.

The top brass of the Indian film industry is flowing down to Goa, including Yash Chopra, Sham Benegal, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Mani Ratnam, Mira Nair. Amir Khan was yet another attraction, sitting on the dais at the opening ceremony, along with dignitaries.

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar received maximum applause from the audience and all praises from the speakers, for providing world-class infrastructure within a short time.

Around one kilometre stretch here along the banks of river Mandovi has been illuminated with lights and glittery of cultural programmes and all kind of stalls.

Prior to the inaugural ceremony, the delegates enjoyed a parade of tableau, depicting Goan carnival as well as other folk forms and the local lifestyle.

“In fact there is so much of side activity being planned for the delegates that I am afraid that the five theatres showing over 200 world-class cinemas may go empty”, said Mr Parrikar, in a lighter vain.

The actual festival however would begin tomorrow, divided into seven major sections. It includes Asian Competition of 15 films to choose the golden and silver peacock awardees, world cinema, Indian and Foreign Retrospectives, tributes and homages, Indian Panorama and mainstream Indian cinema.

Mani Ratnam heads the four-member jury, along with German director Florian Gallenberger, Egyptian actor Mahmoud Kabil and Senegal’s director Moussa Sena Absa. Irene Bignardi, the Italian director of Locarno International Festival, dropped last minute as she met with an accident.